Treatment Options

PLATELET RICH PLASMA

Blood is made of RBC (Red Blood Cells), WBC (White Blood Cells), Plasma, and Platelets. Platelets were initially known to be responsible for blood clotting, and in the last 20 years we have learned that when activated in the body, platelets also release healing proteins called ‘Growth Factors’ that stimulate repair.

The PRP procedure: a small amount of the patient’s blood is collected then spun in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets. Then the platelets are injected back into the injured site. Because PRP utilizes your own blood to heal, each patient is unique and a “one size fits all” approach is not ideal. Our skilled technique at delivering the PRP utilizing ultrasound guidance ensures positive outcomes.

STEM CELLS

In some cases stem cells can be used as a non-surgical treatment alternative to having a surgical procedure. Unfortunately, there are some cases where surgery is unavoidable. In cases where surgery is recommended, stem cells can be used as a supplement to help reduce the recovery time of the procedure and increase the chances of the treatment being a success.

The procedure is quick and generally painless. The stem cells are harvested from your own body with the use of local anesthesia. The process of rejecting stem cells follows the same pattern as PRP.

PROLOTHERAPY

Prolotherapy has been used to treat painful conditions for decades. Prolotherapy uses the same physical process as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) to initiate and accelerate the body’s response to healing, however, Prolotherapy utilizes stimulus such as Dextrose, a concentrated sugar solution, in place of platelets to trigger healing.

NERVE RELEASE

Often time’s nerve pain is caused by adhesions, compression or restrictions. These problems are prone to occur where nerves cross soft tissue planes. A common example of this is carpal tunnel syndrome where the median nerve dives under a thick band of tissue called the transverse carpal ligament. A non-surgical nerve release called “Hydrodissection” can be used to free up these common nerve entrapments and restrictions.

Hydrodissection uses ultra sound guidance to visualize the problematic nerve. Once the restriction is isolated a small needle is placed next to the nerve and fluid is injected to free up the nerve. The procedure is virtually painless and the effects are immediate.

Common Questions About Regenerative Injections

A: At this time insurance companies will not cover the Prolotherapy, PRP, Adipose or BMAC/Stem Cell procedures for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions because they consider them to be experimental.

A: Regenerative injections are not a band aide or a “quick fix” but rather a long-lasting and potentially permanent reparative process if the area is not overused or re-injured after the treatment series, and especially if the patient commits to a rehabilitative program. The healing process is gradual and progressive, initially subtle during the early phases but usually significant and dramatic by the completion of treatment. More endurance, less pain, and better function will continue to be noticed over time.

A: Typically, regenerative injections are performed by injecting various soft tissue structures including ligaments and ligamentous joint capsules throughout the body. Traditionally, regenerative injections are to be injected into structures based on gross anatomic landmarks (also known as “blind injections” meaning without any image guidance). However, with the use of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (MSKUS) for guided injections, more regenerative injections are being performed under MSKUS although not always necessary.

A: They induce natural healing by stimulating the body’s innate ability to be well. These treatments skillfully use the body’s ability to create an inflammatory environment in specific regions, which causes a full-blown healing cascade ultimately leading to a stronger and more resilient structure.